Steven McNicoll

Last updated

Steven McNicoll
Born
Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality Scottish
Occupation(s)Actor, playwright, comedian, television presenter

Steven McNicoll is a Scottish actor, director, playwright and television presenter.

Contents

He co-wrote and starred in seven series of the BBC sketch show Velvet Soup on radio and later television, which earned him a BAFTA nomination.

He is also known to viewers for playing the young Rab C Nesbitt in the series of the same name which stars Gregor Fisher. He also appears regularly as Bra's Jeff in Donald McLeary and Sanjeev Kohli's Sony Award winning BBC Radio 4 sitcom Fags, Mags and Bags .

McNicoll has also presented 4 series of the educational programme Around Scotland for the BBC.

McNicoll has co written several plays for stage and radio. In 2001, his play for BBC Radio 4, There Are Such Things, about the life and career of horror movie legend, Bela Lugosi, won the Hamilton Deane Award for best dramatic presentation from the Dracula Society. Prior to that, in 1997, as writer and actor, McNicoll was a recipient of The Herald Angel Award for his stage play Empty Jesters.

In 2005, Scottish cultural magazine The List nominated him at number 69 in their Hot 100 List which celebrated those who had made the biggest cultural impact in Scotland that year. In 2007, he starred as Sammy Fox in the critically acclaimed BBC TV comedy series Legit , which was nominated for a Rose d'Or.

On stage, McNicoll has appeared in a huge variety of roles.

In 2003 he received the Leon Sinden Award for best supporting actor in Tony Roper's classic comedy/drama The Steamie . In 2005, he received plaudits for his portrayal of Oliver Hardy opposite Barnaby Power in the Tom McGrath play Laurel and Hardy , which was first performed at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and later transferred to the Olympia Theatre Dublin. The same year he was nominated for best supporting actor at the Theatrical Management Association awards for his portrayal of Cliff, opposite David Tennant as Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger which premiered at the Royal Lyceum Theatre and then transferred to the Theatre Royal, Bath.

In 2009, McNicoll starred along with Gordon Kennedy Colin McCredie and Sara Crowe in Tim Firth's comedy musical The Corstorphine Road Nativity at The Festival Theatre.

In November 2010, McNicoll's play The House was premiered at Òran Mór in Glasgow.

In 2011, he played Toby Belch in Twelfth Night and in 2012, David O. Selznick in Moonlight and Magnolias in two hugely successful productions directed by Rachel O'Riordan in her debut season at Perth Theatre. Later that same year he was a recipient of The Argos Angel award for his performances in Paddy Cunneen's Fleeto and Wee Andy at the Brighton Festival.

McNicoll has also appeared regularly at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow in the annual Christmas pantomime.

On radio, he has worked extensively for the BBC for over thirty years, starting as a child actor, then progressing to writing and acting in plays and series for Radio 3 and 4. In July 2012, he could be heard as Pa Joad opposite Michelle Fairley in a three part Radio 4 Classic Serial adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath . And with Brian Cox in episodes of McLevy .

In 2017, he played Biesenthal in Marathon Man with Ian McDiarmid for Radio 4.

In April 2013 he co-starred With Johnny Watson and Gail Watson in Rob Drummond's play Quiz Show that launched The Traverse Theatre's Fiftieth Anniversary Season.

McNicoll is familiar to younger audiences as the teacher Mr Mackie in the much loved BBC TV version of Katie Morag. And his numerous appearances in the hugely popular Teacup Travels . Most recently he has starred as Bob in the BAFTA nominated CBeebies series Molly and Mack . The show ran for four successful series and a fifth series has just been commissioned to start filming in 2022.

He has recently appeared as an interviewer as part of Ian Lavender's Dad's Army reminiscence show "Don't tell him Pike!" which played to full houses at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Assembly Rooms.

In 2016' he starred with Freddie Fox in the comedy horror short The Northleach Horror directed by David Cairns.

He starred as Jean at the Royal Lyceum in Murat Daltaban's DOT theatre company's acclaimed production of Zinnie Harris' adaptation of Ionesco's Rhinoceros as part of the Edinburgh International Festival in 2017.

Selected stage appearances

YearPlay/TheatreRoleNotes
2022A Christmas Carol, Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghMr Fezziwig / Nouadays
2018 The Belle's Stratagem , Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghProvost Hardy, Phillip, Gibson
2017Rhinoceros, Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghJean
2014 Kill Johnny Glendenning , Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghBruce
2013The Shawshank Redemption, Assembly Rooms/The Gaiety, DublinBrian Hadley
2013Quiz Show, Traverse Theatre, EdinburghGerry HollandWinner: Best New Play Critic's Award for Theatre 2013
2012 Pygmalion , Òran Mór, GlasgowHenry Higgins
2012Fleeto, Tumult in the CloudsDCI Martin BoothWinner: Argos Angel Award Brighton Festival
2012Wee Andy, Tumult in the CloudsAndrew GrahamWinner: Argos Angel Award Brighton Festival
2012Moonlight and Magnolias, Perth TheatreDavid O Selznick
2011 Twelfth Night , Perth Theatre Sir Toby Belch
2011Educating Agnes, Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghHamish
2010While You Lie, Traverse Theatre, EdinburghChris
2010 The Importance of Being Earnest , Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghMerriman/Lane
2007 The Merchant of Venice , Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghGratiano
2006 Look Back in Anger  : 50 years, Royal CourtCliff
2006Joking Apart, Northcott Theatre Sven
2005 Laurel and Hardy , Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh / Olympia Theatre Dublin Oliver Hardy
2005Look Back in Anger, Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh / Theatre Royal BathCliffNominated: T.M.A Best supporting actor
2004Dead Funny, Borderline TheatreBrian
2003 Man and Superman / The Steamie / The Matchmaker, Pitlochry Festival TheatreHector Malone/ Andy/ AugusteWinner: Leon Sinden Award Best Actor
2001 The Comedy of Errors , Lyceum Theatre, EdinburghDromio of Syracuse

Selected film and TV

YearTitleCompanyRole
2013Katie MoragBBCMr Mackie
2010Garrow's LawBBCYardley
2009Joe Smeal's WheelsFilm NouveauDavie Bell
2008EmptyBBCTam
2007LegitBBCSammy Fox
2006Wearside Jack: The Ripper HoaxerChannel 4DCI Dick Holland
2004The Return of Peg Leg PeteFox SearchlightPete
2002Cry For BoboForged FilmCoco
2001Velvet SoupBBCWriter/ Performer
2000Velvet SoupBBCWriter/ Performer
1994–2011Rab C. NesbittBBCYoung Rab C

Selected radio appearances

DateTitleRoleDirectorStation
31 May 1999 Let It Bleed   [1] [2] Gaynor Macfarlane BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
25 May 2004 15 Minutes to Go: Viper in the Nest Headmaster / Radio Announcer Lu Kemp BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
31 March 2003 The Life Trainer Chaz Lu Kemp BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
28 October 2003 The Time Between Two Tides Loan Shark/Operator Gaynor Macfarlane BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
8 January 2004 Bampot Central Constable McLaren Lu Kemp BBC Radio 3 The Wire
21 August 2008 Sex for Volunteers   [3] Joe Kirsty Williams BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
24 December 2008 Christmas Eve   [4] Vakula Bruce Young BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
23 July 2010 No Help When Dead   [5] Baxter Kirsty Williams BBC Radio Scotland Drama
11 November 201218 November 2012 The Black Book   [6] Mickey Rebus Bruce Young BBC Radio 4
Classic Serial

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alistair McGowan</span> English comedian and actor (born 1964)

Alistair Charles McGowan is an English impressionist, comic, actor, singer and writer best known to British audiences for The Big Impression, which was, for four years, one of BBC1's top-rating comedy programmes – winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA in 2003. He has also worked extensively in theatre and appeared in the West End in Art, Cabaret, The Mikado and Little Shop of Horrors. As a television actor, he played the lead role in BBC1's Mayo. He wrote the play Timing and the book A Matter of Life and Death or How to Wean Your Man off Football with former comedy partner Ronni Ancona. He also provided voices for Spitting Image.

Sean Biggerstaff is a Scottish actor. He is best known for playing Oliver Wood in the Harry Potter film series, appearing in Philosopher's Stone (2001), Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Rankin</span> Scottish writer

Sir Ian James Rankin is a Scottish crime writer and philanthropist, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Cox (actor)</span> Scottish actor (born 1946)

Brian Denis Cox is a Scottish actor. A classically trained Shakespearean actor, he is known for leading performances on stage and television, as well as supporting roles in film. His numerous accolades include two Laurence Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award as well as a nomination for a British Academy Television Award. In 2003, he was appointed to the Order of the British Empire at the rank of Commander. Empire magazine awarded him the Empire Icon Award in 2006, and the UK Film Council named him one of the top 10 powerful British film stars in Hollywood in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Paterson (actor)</span> Scottish actor (born 1945)

William Tulloch Paterson is a Scottish actor with a career in theatre, film, television and radio. Throughout his career he has appeared regularly in radio drama and provided the narration for a large number of documentaries. He has appeared in films and TV series including Comfort and Joy (1984), Traffik (1989), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990), Wives and Daughters (1999), Sea of Souls (2004–2007), Amazing Grace (2006), Miss Potter (2006), Little Dorrit (2008), Doctor Who (2010), Outlander (2014), Fleabag (2016–2019), Inside No. 9 (2018), Good Omens (2019), and Brassic (2020). He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Scottish BAFTAs.

Iain Robertson is a BAFTA award-winning Scottish actor. He portrayed "Lex" in the cult Glasgow gang film Small Faces. Robertson is also known for his work in the long-running children's drama Grange Hill and The Debt Collector, also starring Billy Connolly.

Joseph McFadden is a Scottish actor, best known for his roles in The Crow Road,Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll, Heartbeat and Holby City. He won the 2017 series of the BBC One series Strictly Come Dancing with professional dance partner Katya Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Stott</span> Scottish stage, television and film actor

Kenneth Campbell Stott is a Scottish stage, television and film actor who won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1995 in the play Broken Glass at Royal National Theatre. He portrayed the dwarf Balin in The Hobbit film trilogy (2012–2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forbes Masson</span> Scottish actor and writer (born 1963)

Forbes (Robertson) Masson is a Scottish actor and writer. He is an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is best known for his roles in classical theatre, musicals, comedies, and appearances in London's West End. He is also known for his comedy partnership with Alan Cumming. Masson and Cumming wrote The High Life, a Scottish situation comedy in which they play the lead characters, Steve McCracken and Sebastian Flight. Characters McCracken and Flight were heavily based on Victor and Barry, famous Scottish comedy alter-egos of Masson and Cumming. Masson also stars in the 2021 film The Road Dance, set on the Isle of Lewis as the Reverend MacIver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Stevens</span> English actor (born 1982)

Daniel Jonathan Stevens is an English actor. He first drew international attention for his role as Matthew Crawley in the ITV acclaimed period drama series Downton Abbey (2010–2012). He also starred as David in the thriller film The Guest (2014), Sir Lancelot in the adventure film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014), The Beast/Prince in Disney's live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (2017), Lorin Willis in the biographical legal drama Marshall (2017), Charles Dickens in the biographical drama The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) and Russian Eurovision singer Alexander Lemtov in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020). From 2017 to 2019, he starred as David Haller in the FX series Legion. In 2018, he starred in the Netflix horror-thriller Apostle, and since 2023, he has starred as Korvo Opposites in the animated series Solar Opposites.

John Michie is a Scottish television and film actor, known for his roles as DI Robbie Ross in the STV detective drama series Taggart, as Karl Munro in Coronation Street from 2011 to 2013 and his role as CEO Guy Self in Casualty and Holby City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Gray (actor)</span> Scottish actor and writer (1959–2021)

Andy Gray was a Scottish actor and writer from Perth.

Shauna Macdonald is a Scottish actress. She began her career starring in The Debt Collector (1999). She then had her breakthrough starring as Sam Buxton in the television series Spooks (2003–2004). After departing the series, she starred as Sarah Carter in the horror film The Descent (2005), the role for which she is best known. She gained widespread recognition and praise for her performance, and was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actress. The film established Macdonald as a scream queen. She reprised her role in its sequel The Descent Part 2 (2009).

Lloyd Woolf is a British comedy actor and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Heughan</span> Scottish actor

Sam Roland Heughan is a Scottish actor, producer, author, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his starring role as Jamie Fraser in the Starz drama series Outlander (2014–present) for which he has won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor and the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television, and received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.

Juliet Cadzow is a Scottish film and television actress. She played Edie McCredie in the children's television series Balamory, Suzie Fraser in BBC series River City and various roles in BBC series Still Game.

Anne Downie is a Scottish actress and writer. She was born in Glasgow of Scottish and Irish parentage. She has written and performed across a wide variety of media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Donachie</span> Scottish actor

Ronald Eaglesham Porter, known professionally as Ron Donachie, is a Scottish actor. He is known for starring as DI John Rebus in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the Ian Rankin "Rebus" detective novels and for his supporting roles in films The Jungle Book (1994), Titanic and television series Doctor Who and Game of Thrones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Rankin</span> Scottish actor

Richard Rankin is a Scottish film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for the Scottish sketch show Burnistoun and as Roger Wakefield MacKenzie in the Starz drama Outlander.

David Carlyle is a British actor from Scotland. Following a 10 year stage career, Carlyle starred in the multi-award winning 2021 Channel 4 / HBO Max Series It’s a Sin which led to his nomination as Best Supporting Actor in the 2022 British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA) and BAFTA Scotland Audience Award for his performance as Gregory Finch, aka Gloria. Carlyle also appeared in Bodyguard (2018) and Lip Service (2010).

References